Data centre

ABSTRACT

A data center comprises a plurality of sections ( 15   a - 15   h ) assembled together to define a unitary structure ( 10 ) such that there exists at least one personnel area that spans at least two sections; wherein the sections comprise a first section with which there is associated a first service—carrying chassis ( 40, 50, 60, 70 ) and a second section with which there is associated a second service—carrying chassis  40, 50, 60, 70 ), each of the first and second service—carrying chassis comprising a frame ( 41, 51, 61, 71 ) onto which is mounted components of at least two different services ( 42 - 44, 46 ); the first and second chassis are connected to each other by means of a junction ( 47 ) between the first and second chassis; and the first and second sections each include a ceiling ( 22 ) and the first service carrying chassis is mounted on the ceiling of the first section and the second service carrying chassis is mounted on the ceiling of the second section.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns data centres and a method of constructinga data centre. More particularly, but not exclusively, this inventionconcerns data centre buildings, for example provided in sectional form.The invention also concerns a kit of parts for constructing a datacentre.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A data centre is a late 20th Century development that has grown as aresponse to the increasing demand for computer processing capability anda recognition of the importance of IT in the place of every business andorganisation today. Whereas smaller organisations have sufficientprocessing power with laptops, PCs and occasionally servers, largerorganisations require higher capacity centralised processing to serve awide range of needs and applications. A few years ago this capacity wassupplied by large mainframe computers, but more recently the method usedhas been to provide data centres comprising many networked computerservers known as blades installed in racks enabling controlled andmodular expansion of capacity. The racks also typically housetelecommunications equipment such as routers to handle data flow betweenthe computer servers and data flow between the data centre and theoutside world.

Data centres can mirror the growth and business activities of successfulcompanies. The growth of a data centre within an expanding company maytypically work as follows:

1. Initially the data centre may start as single rack of servers in anair conditioned room—sometimes referred to as a ‘data closet’.

2. As the organisation expands and along with it the number of IT racksemployed, the closets become ‘Server Rooms’ or ‘IT Rooms’.

3. Eventually the number of racks and size of room expands, often to thepoint where a dedicated building or part of a building houses the IT.Whilst there is no strict definition of when the size of an IT facilitybecomes large, or sophisticated, enough to be termed a “data centre”,data centres are typically relatively large IT facilities providingrobust and resilient IT facilities. Typically, there will be more than50 servers (often many more) and at least some redundancy in the powersupply powering the servers to ensure continuity of service.

4. As the company grows and/or becomes a multi-national organisationadditional data centres will be built and sometimes numbers of thesewill be consolidated into ‘Super Data Centres’.

Data centre facilities can require a floor space ranging from a fewhundred square feet to a million square feet. The most prevalent sizefor a small data centre is five to ten thousand square feet with fiftyto a hundred thousand square feet being the most common floor arearequirement for a large data centre.

Data centres will typically have the ability to deliver applicationsspread across an organisation and/or supply chain and/or customers indiffering geographical locations. There will typically be a dedicatedmechanical and electrical (M&E) plant to deliver power, cooling and firesuppression with built-in redundancy with the aim of providing nearcontinuous operation.

The IT industry has long recognised the criticality of central computingfacilities and the need for energy efficient operations to control costeffectiveness. Current data centre technology is the summation of 30years of innovation and engineering design thought and has come a longway in recent times. The most advanced new data centre designs tend tofall into one of two different types, each of which has advantages anddisadvantages. The first, more traditional, type of data centre is ahuge, custom built warehouse style building which is often located so asto be able to take advantage of local weather conditions to aid coolingof the IT equipment it houses. These data centres can be spacious,ergonomic and highly energy efficient because the structure, layout andcooling systems of each data centre are designed from scratch around itsparticular location and intended use. Yahoo!'s “Computing Coop” datacentre in New York is an example of this type of data centre.

The drawbacks of this type of data centre are the large cost and lengthof time for construction, which are necessary consequences of thebespoke design model. It is also not easy to add capacity—the datacentre must be built large enough in the first place to cope with futureincreases in the number of servers required by its owner/occupier. Thesefactors also make this style of data centre impractical for companieswho need only a small or medium-sized data centre. A further significantdrawback is the fact that only a few sites worldwide have a climatesuitable for hosting such a large installation without placing unduedemands on the cooling systems. The need for a large skilledconstruction workforce to be available at the site further limits thenumber of suitable locations.

The second type of data centre is the modular data centre, which isconstructed from several factory-built modules. The modules aretypically built and sometimes even fitted out at a central facility andthen shipped to the location of the data centre, where they areconnected together and to the local utilities. U.S. Pat. No. 7,738,251(Google), for example, describes a modular data centre in which eachmodule is formed by an ISO shipping container. This second type of datacentre addresses some of the problems with the first type, but hasseveral disadvantages of its own. In particular, it is necessary foreasy transport of the modules that they conform to the dimensions of ISOshipping containers; however this significantly limits the spaceavailable inside each module for IT equipment, cooling systems and humanaccess. If actual shipping containers are used as the basic modules,then this also places severe constraints on how the modules can belinked up into a single data centre. These features also mean that thisstyle of data centre is generally not as energy efficient as the firsttype.

Some of the disadvantages of containerised data centres are overcome bythe modular data centres described in WO 2010/139921 (Bripco) and WO2011/051655 (Colt Technology Services). The data centres of WO2010/139921 and WO 2011/051655 both consist of several modules whichconnect to form a building having internal spaces that span severalmodules. This allows for many more layout options than is possible witha containerised design.

The data centres of WO 2010/139921 and WO 2011/051655 still suffer fromthe disadvantage that, because the modules are assembled away from thesite of the data centre, each module must be transported as a volumetricunit (where the volume of the unit when operational is the same as thevolume of the unit when being transported). This necessarily involvessignificant costs due to the size of the modules, much of which volumecomprises empty space inside the modules. This feature of prior artmodular and/or containerised data centres places a limit on how energyefficient and cost-effective they can be, when the entire supply andconstruction process is taken into account.

The present invention seeks to mitigate the above-mentioned problems.Alternatively or additionally, the present invention seeks to provide animproved data centre and an improved method of constructing a datacentre.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides, according to a first aspect, a datacentre comprising a plurality of sections assembled together to define aunitary structure such that there exists at least one personnel areathat spans at least two sections; wherein the sections comprise a firstsection with which there is associated a first service-carrying chassisand a second section with which there is associated a secondservice-carrying chassis, each of the first and second service-carryingchassis comprising a frame onto which is mounted components of at leasttwo different services; the first and second chassis are connected toeach other by means of a junction between the first and second chassis;and the first and second sections each include a ceiling and the firstservice carrying chassis is mounted on the ceiling of the first sectionand the second service carrying chassis is mounted on the ceiling of thesecond section.

It will be appreciated that the personnel area may be any area within adata centre which it is possible for a person to enter, i.e. any room orcorridor. For example the personnel area may be a rack room. Thepersonnel area may be a cold aisle. The personnel area may be a coldcorridor. Alternatively the personnel area may be a hot aisle. Thepersonnel area may be a hot corridor. The data centre may compriseseveral such personnel areas.

The first and second sections each include a ceiling. The first servicecarrying chassis is mounted on the ceiling of the first section. Thesecond service carrying chassis is mounted on the ceiling of the secondsection. Substantially all of the services in the first and secondsections may be carried by the first and second service carryingchassis. There may be no services provided in the first and secondsections other than the services carried by the first and second servicecarrying chassis. The services may include mechanical and electricalapparatus.

Thus, in an embodiment of the invention there may be no key mechanicaland electrical apparatus (i.e. critical to the installation andoperation of the data centre) mounted on the walls or floor of themajority of, if not all of, the data centre (e.g. such that no walls orfloors are used in the data centre as supporting structure for theprovision of trunk-like services to the areas in the data centreaccommodating the IT racks). The advantages of mounting (substantially)all of the mechanical and electrical (M&E) apparatus in chassis on theceiling in most areas of the data centre are several. Firstly, thisallows the data centre structure to be broken down into a kit comprisinga minimum number of component types, which in turn reduces the cost ofconstructing the data centre and allows it to be economically shipped toa site remote from where the kit is manufactured. Secondly, it meansthat the services, including the mechanical and electrical apparatusrequired by the data centre, can be fully installed and tested beforethe kit is assembled into a data centre, which makes assembly of the kitvery quick and simple. Thirdly, the use of a single chassis to providemultiple services is a compact and efficient solution which speedsassembly on site, compared to prior art construction techniques in whichinstallation of M&E services would be time-consuming. Further benefitsand advantages will become apparent to the reader from the descriptionthat follows.

The services carried by the chassis may be in the form of utility-typeservices of the kind that require a conduit, for example, a pipe orcable or the like, to allow flow of fluids, power, signals, or the likefrom one location to another. The services may provide electrical power,data transfer and a fluid, for example.

The at least two different services may include at least one busbar. Theat least two different services may include at least two busbars. One ofthese busbars may, but need not, be a backup busbar. The at least twodifferent services may include at least one conduit for transportingfire suppressant gas. The at least two different services may include acable tray. The at least two different services may include a length ofnetwork cable.

The at least two different services may include one or more connectors,for example for connecting adjacent sections of a busbar together. Thejunction between the two adjacent chassis may be formed by a pluralityof separate connections. The junction may be formed by one or moreseparate junction connectors that link the services at one end of thechassis with the corresponding services at one end of the adjacentchassis. Preferably, there is provided a single junction connector forjoining the services of adjacent chassis.

The at least two different services may include a lighting system. Itwill be appreciated that in an embodiment of the invention in which thelighting system is substantially entirely mounted on the ceiling, havinglight switches mounted on the walls (as is common practice for datacentres and indeed all buildings) is precluded. The lighting system mayinclude one or more sensors for detecting when a first area of the datacentre is occupied. The lighting system may be arranged such that thelights in the first area of the data centre are on when that area isoccupied and are off when that area is not occupied. Advantageously,this arrangement removes the requirement for manually operated lightswitches and also improves the energy efficiency of the data centre.

The data centre may be arranged such that at least one of the ceilingsincludes at least one track for mounting a service carrying chassis on.The track may be in the form of a rail. At least one of the servicecarrying chassis may be mounted on the at least one track. At least oneof the service carrying chassis may include at least one engagementmember arranged to engage with the track. The at least one engagementmember may be arranged to slidably engage with the track.Advantageously, in an embodiment of the invention in which at least oneof the service carrying chassis slidably engages with the track, thatservice carrying chassis may be easily moved from one position on thetrack to another. At least one of the service carrying chassis and/orthe track may include at least one sliding prevention member arranged tocontrollably prevent sliding between the track and the at least oneservice carrying chassis. The sliding prevention member may be a bolt.The sliding prevention member may be a clamp. At least one of the firstand second service carrying chassis may be arranged so as to connect toat least one other service carrying chassis.

Each of the first and second service carrying chassis may comprise aframe, onto which is mounted at least one item of mechanical andelectrical apparatus. The at least one item of mechanical and electricalapparatus may comprise a busbar section. The at least one item ofmechanical and electrical apparatus may comprise a length of networkcable. The at least one item of mechanical and electrical apparatus maycomprise a cable tray. Alternatively or additionally the at least oneitem of mechanical and electrical apparatus may comprise a length offire suppressant gas conduit.

If each of the first and second service carrying chassis comprises aframe, the frame may include engagement members for engaging with thetrack. The engagement members, if present, may slidably engage with thetrack.

Embodiments of the invention in which the services required for runningthe data centre are carried by one or more service carrying chassisbenefit from the advantages that installing the services, including themechanical and electrical apparatus, into the data centre is a simpletask of arranging the chassis adjacent to each other and connecting themtogether. This requires little or no specialist expertise. The design ofthe chassis may be optimised so that they are simple to manufacture andconvenient to transport, which allows the possibility of outsourcing themanufacture of the chassis whilst maintaining high quality standards. Italso allows the possibility of forward manufacturing chassis and keepingthem in stock for when they are required. Separating the manufacture ofthe services from the construction of the building structure in thismanner also significantly compresses the manufacture and build time ofthe data centre. The data centre may include three or more chassis,connected in series, for carrying at least two different services. Eachchassis may have a length of greater than 1 m. Each chassis may have alength of less than 10 m. Each chassis may have a width of greater than0.1 m. Each chassis may have a width of less than 2 m.

The data centre may be a modular data centre. The first and secondsections may, but need not, be first and second modules of a modulardata centre. It will be appreciated that the present invention isparticularly advantageous when applied to embodiments in which the datacentre is modular, since modular data centres are generally shipped froma manufacture location to a remote final assembly location. Usually eachmodule is a pre-fabricated volumetric unit and must be transported assuch; however the present invention allows the possibility of shippingeach module as a compact kit of parts. Clearly this is highlyadvantageous with regards to the cost and energy efficiency of themodular data centre.

The volume of the kits of parts for a plurality of such modules whentransported in such a compact manner may be significantly less (forexample less than half) of the sum volume of the modules once assembledfrom such kits of parts. The invention also allows transportation ofkits from a location remote from the intended site of the data centre toa local factory that is relatively near to the data centre site. Thekits may be assembled into modules at the factory and then transportedto the data centre site.

The modularity of the data centre is preferably provided by means of thedata centre being divided into discrete sections that when assembledtogether form a unitary data centre structure. Thus, the various modulesthat form the data centre may perform different functions and need notbe identically configured. There may for example be several IT roommodules in the data centre. There may be a cooling air supply module forproviding cooling air to the IT equipment in the data centre.

The sections may each comprise a wall. The sections may each define avolume. The volume may be greater than 10 m³ and is preferably greaterthan 20 m³. The volume may be less than 250 m³. It will be appreciatedthat the volume defined by each section need not be physically boundedon all sides. Thus two adjacent sections may each have a partially orfully open face on their adjacent sides; the division between adjacentsections would nonetheless still be clear as a result of connections,joins or abutting surfaces at the boundary between the adjacentsections. Such a feature provides considerably more design freedom sincethe components need not be assembled to make individual andself-contained modules, but can instead be used to construct somethingmore akin to a custom-built data centre, for example with two or moremodules defining a connected open space, with the consequentimprovements to energy efficiency and working environment that thisbrings.

The data centre so constructed may be of a type that utilises a hotaisle/cold aisle configuration. There may be a plurality of hot aislesinterleaved between a plurality of cold aisles. The data centre mayutilise an above-floor cooling regime. The cooling regime may providecooling air via a personnel corridor, as opposed to using dedicatedcooling air ducts.

The data centre may be housed within a larger building. The floor of thedata centre (or the floor of the ground floor of the data centre ifthere is more than one storey to the data centre) may for example beformed by the floor of the large building.

The present invention also provides, according to a second aspect, aservice carrying chassis for use in a data centre. The data centre maybe one which comprises a plurality of sections, each with a ceiling,assembled together to define a unitary structure such that there existsat least one personnel area that spans at least two sections. The datacentre may for example be a data centre according to the first aspect ofthe invention described herein. The service carrying chassis preferablycomprises a frame, onto which is mounted components of at least twodifferent services; and a mounting system for attaching the chassis toone of the ceilings of the data centre.

The components may include a busbar section. The components may includea plurality of busbar sections. The plurality of busbar sections may bearranged parallel to each other. The components may include a cabletray. The components may include a length of network cable. Thecomponents may include a light fitting.

The mounting system may comprise one or more engagement members arrangedto engage with at least one of the ceilings. The engagement members maybe arranged so as to be suitable for engaging with a track. Theengagement members may be arranged so as to be suitable for slidablyengaging with a track.

The present invention also provides, according to a third embodiment, amethod of constructing a data centre comprising the steps of providingat least one ceiling portion; providing a plurality of supportingmembers; mounting services on the at least one ceiling portion;arranging the at least one ceiling portion and the plurality ofsupporting members into a first volume; transporting the ceiling portionand supporting members so arranged; and assembling the ceiling portionand supporting members to form a section of a data centre, the sectionso formed having a second volume; wherein the first volume is smallerthan the second volume.

The first volume may be less than three-quarters of the second volume.Preferably the first volume is less than half of the second volume. Theservices may include at least two different services. The method may beperformed such that the data centre is a modular data centre. If thedata centre is a modular data centre, the first volume may be less thanthe volume of any one of the modules of the data centre in assembledform. If the data centre is a modular data centre, the first volume maybe less than half of the volume of any one of the modules of the datacentre in assembled form. The step of mounting services on the at leastone ceiling portion may include the step of providing a first servicecarrying chassis comprising first components of at least two differentservices. The step of mounting services on the at least one ceilingportion may include the step of attaching the first service carryingchassis to the at least one ceiling portion. The ceiling portion maycomprise one or more ceiling portions.

The method may additionally include the steps of providing at least onefurther ceiling portion; providing a second service carrying chassiscomprising second components of at least two different services;attaching the second service carrying chassis to the at least onefurther ceiling portion; and connecting the first components to thesecond components. The method may be performed such that the secondcomponents are substantially identical to the first components.

The step of mounting services on the at least one ceiling portion mayinclude the steps of providing at least one track on the ceilingportion, and slidably attaching the first service carrying chassis tothe at least one track.

The at least one ceiling portion may be constructed from a plurality ofcorner elements and a plurality of horizontal support members. Thehorizontal support members are preferably joined to the corner elementsto form a rectangular structure.

The plurality of supporting members preferably includes a plurality ofvertical support members. The plurality of vertical support members mayinclude a plurality of corner posts. The plurality of vertical supportmembers may include intermediate posts. The vertical support members arepreferably not joined to the ceiling portion during transportation.Preferably, the vertical support members are laid flat (and horizontal)during transportation. The corner elements have a height that is no morethan 25% different from, and preferably substantially the same as, halfthe height of the first volume (of the parts when transported).Preferably the corner elements have a height of less than 1 m.Preferably the corner elements are arranged vertically when transported.Preferably the corner elements and the vertical support members are soarranged that in the assembled data centre, a vertical member extendsvertically from each corner element. One of the corner element and thevertical support member includes a socket in which the other of thecorner element and the vertical support member is received, in theassembled data centre. In the assembled data centre, the section of thedata centre formed by the ceiling portion and the supporting members mayform part of a roof of the data centre. The section of the data centreformed by the ceiling portion and the supporting members may form partof the floor of a second of higher storey of the data centre.Advantageously, the ceiling portion and the supporting members may be soconfigured that they may form, at the choice of the user/installer, partof a roof of a data centre or part of a floor of a second or higherstorey of a data centre. The ceiling portion and the supporting membersmay thus be transported together with one or more roof portions. Havingone set of components (e.g. ceiling portion and associated supportingmembers) that can be used selectively in each of (a) a single storeydata centre, (b) as a lower level in a multi-storey data centre, or (c)as the uppermost level in a multi-storey data centre, allows forstreamlining of manufacture and minimising the number of differentcomponents or systems required for multiple data centre builds.

It will be appreciated that the modules or sections of the data centremay be assembled before being joined to each other. Alternatively,part-assembled modules or sections of the data centre may be joinedbefore each section or module is fully assembled. In either case,fit-out of the data centre will typically follow once the building ofthe data centre has been completed and the mechanical and electricalservices installed. Installation of servers and networking IT equipmentwill typically be conducted when fitting-out, and/or possibly after (sothat fit-out does not extend to putting servers in racks in the datacentre building).

The method may be performed such that the first service carrying chassisis a service carrying chassis as described above.

Thus, in an embodiment of the invention the components of a data centremay be manufactured remotely from the site where the data centre is tobe located, and furthermore, substantially all of the services(including the necessary mechanical and electrical apparatus) requiredfor the operation of the data centre may be installed onto the ceilingportion and tested at this stage. There is no need to assemble the datacentre components into a data centre in the factory, which clearlyallows for a highly streamlined production line. The data centrecomponents, with the services already fitted, can then be packaged intoa volume small enough that several packages can be fitted into astandard ISO shipping container.

Clearly this has significant cost and environmental advantages ascompared to shipping each data centre module in volumetric form, as isrequired by current modular data centre designs. The present inventionalso provides, according to a fourth aspect, a kit of parts forconstructing a section of a data centre, the kit comprising at least oneceiling portion; a plurality of supporting members; and at least oneservice carrying chassis comprising components of at least two differentservices; wherein the at least one service carrying chassis is arrangedto be mounted to the at least one ceiling portion.

The ceiling portion may be arranged to also function as a roof portion.The ceiling portion may be arranged to also function as a floor portion,for example if the kit is for constructing a section of a multi-storeydata centre. The kit may additionally comprise at least one floorportion. The kit may be supplied such that the at least one servicecarrying chassis is mounted on the at least one ceiling portion at thetime of supply. The at least one service carrying chassis may beintegral with the at least one ceiling portion.

The kit may be arrangeable in a first configuration for facilitatingtransport of the kit and in a second configuration corresponding to theassembled configuration of the kit, wherein the volume of the firstconfiguration is less than half the volume of the second configuration.The first configuration may have dimensions such that it fits inside anISO shipping container. The first configuration may have dimensions suchthat at least two kits arranged in the first configuration fit inside asingle ISO shipping container. Preferably the first configuration hasdimensions such that at least three kits arranged in the firstconfiguration fit inside a single ISO shipping container. The kit ofparts may be arranged such that the data centre is a data centre asdescribed above.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a datacentre comprising a plurality of sections assembled together to define aunitary structure such that there exists at least one personnel areathat spans at least two sections; wherein

the sections comprise a first section with which there is associated afirst service-carrying chassis and a second section with which there isassociated a second service-carrying chassis;

the first and second chassis are connected to each other by means of ajunction between the first and second chassis; and

the first and second chassis each carry at least two different services.

It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation toone aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into otheraspects of the present invention. For example, the method of theinvention may incorporate any of the features described with referenceto the apparatus of the invention and vice versa.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way ofexample only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a data centre according to a firstembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2a shows a perspective view of a section of the data centre of FIG.1;

FIG. 2b shows an exploded view of the components of a section of thedata centre of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a partial perspective view of the data centre of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a service carrying chassis accordingto the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a different service carrying chassisaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a further different service carryingchassis according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of yet another different servicecarrying chassis according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view from above of a ceiling portion andsupports according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view from below of a ceiling portion, servicecarrying chassis and supports according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a floor portion and other componentsof a data centre section according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of components of a data centre sectionaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of packaged components of three datacentre sections according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 13a and b show perspective views of a DX module and an airoptimiser module respectively according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of a partially assembled section of thedata centre of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15a shows a perspective view of all of the sections of the datacentre of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15b shows a perspective view of the data centre of FIG. 1;

FIG. 16a shows a perspective view of part of a two-storey data centreaccording to a second embodiment;

FIG. 16b shows an exploded perspective view of parts of the data centreshown in FIG. 16a ; and

FIG. 17 is a composite illustration showing on the right-hand side aperspective cut-away view of the two-storey data centre of the secondembodiment and on the left hand side schematic representations of theconstruction of the ceiling of each storey.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows the layout of a data centre building 10 according to afirst embodiment of the invention. At either end of the building 10there is an entrance 11. At the front of the building there is a fireexit 12. Also at the front of the building are two ambient air intakeholes 13. Each ambient air intake 13 contains a set of controllablelouvres which enable the amount of ambient air that is allowed into thebuilding to be controlled. Ambient air entering the building is denotedby the white arrows. Between the two ambient air intakes 13 there aretwo holes defining a pair of exhaust air outlets 14. Exhaust air outlets14 also each contain a set of controllable louvres. Exhaust air exitingthe building is denoted by the black arrows.

The data centre building 10 is made up of eight sections 15 a-h, withthe joins between adjacent sections shown by dotted lines. The shortends of the rectangular sections form the front and back external sidewalls of the building. The left-hand side of section 15 a and theright-hand side of section 15 h form the left and right external sidewalls respectively of the building. All of the sections 15 a-h have thesame dimensions and basic construction, differing only in the provisionand arrangement of internal and external doors and walls and air inletsand outlets.

FIG. 2a shows section 15 e (internal walls have been omitted for thesake of clarity) in isolation. FIG. 2b shows an exploded view of thecomponents of section 15 e (with internal walls, but omitting externalwall panels). All of the sections 15 consist of a floor portion 21, aceiling portion 22, four corner support posts 23, four intermediatesupport posts 24, and six external wall panels 25 (only the three frontexternal wall panels are shown in FIG. 2a ). Section 15 e additionallyincludes a fire door in the front end wall, and sections 15 d and 15 feach additionally include an exhaust air outlet 14 in the front endwall. The external wall panels of these sections are shapedappropriately to accommodate these features. The external wall panels 25are formed from highly insulated aluminium panels, with a fireresistance of at least one hour.

Floor portion 21 and ceiling portion 22 are both based on a frameworkconsisting of two long side steel beams 26, two short end steel beams27, and four steel corner elements 28, which are designed to connectwith the corner posts 23. The beams and corner elements are weldedtogether in a rectangular shape. Steel joists (not visible) extendingbetween the side beams are provided at regular intervals. The steelbeams may, if desired, be provided with weakened sections which allowthem to flex, so that the data centre building will be more resilient inthe event of an earthquake.

Floor portion 21 additionally has a plywood floor deck supported on thejoists, and a sheet of waterproof liner material fixed to the bottom ofthe joists. Ceiling portion 22 additionally has insulating materialfixed above and below the joists, and a steel panel roofing system (suchas Kingspan) including falls to both sides of the roof and externaldrainage collection, fixed over the top layer of insulating material.The lower surface (not visible) of the ceiling portion 22 is made fromsteel plate with a plastic coating finish.

Inside the section 15 e there is an internal wall consisting of threeinternal wall panels 29 (one of which includes a glass viewing pane) anda vented door assembly 19. Two further internal wall panels 29 are alsoprovided at the opposite end of section 15 e. These serve to seal offthe end of a cold aisle in the data centre 10. The internal and externalwall and ceiling portions may, if desired, be constructed with magneticshielding, RF or X-ray protection. The internal finish of the walls andceiling is a plastic coated galvanised steel finish.

Data centre 10 comprises eight sections 15 arranged adjacent to eachother and bolted together. Sections 15 a and 15 h, which will henceforthbe referred to as air optimiser sections, each contain a region 16 whichis designed to accommodate air treatment equipment such as adiabaticcoolers, DX coolers, filters and fans. Sections 15 a and 15 h also eachinclude an ambient air intake 13 through which ambient air can enter thedata centre building 10, a controllable return air vent 17 through whichwarm air exhausted by IT equipment in the data centre can be returned tothe air treatment equipment, and an air mixing box 18 for mixing the airfrom return air vent 17 and ambient air intake 13. Sections 15 a and 15h additionally each have an internal wall running along most of thelength of one side of the section. These walls include the return airvents 17 and several doors which provide access to the air treatmentequipment.

Sections 15 b-g, which will henceforth be referred to as IT sections,are designed to accommodate IT equipment housed in standard server racksof up to 1200 mm depth. Each section 15 b-g contains elongaterectangular rack storage areas (sections 15 b-f each have two such rackstorage areas whilst section 15 g has just one, to allow for access tothe adjacent air treatment region 16). Each rack storage area iseffectively defined by a single row of racks 20 running lengthways alongthe section, i.e. widthways across the building.

In each section 15 b-g at the rear end of the rack storage area(s) thereis an internal wall running across the entire width of the section. Avented door 19 having controllable louvres is provided in the wall toallow personnel access and the passage of cooling air into the spacebetween the racks, which is therefore a cold aisle. An additional,smaller internal wall is provided at the opposite end of the rackstorage areas, spanning the gap between the racks. This internal wall isdesigned to close off the cold aisle at the front end. At the top ofboth rows of racks 20 are over-rack blanking plates (not shown) designedto stop cold air passing between the top of the racks 20 and the ceilingof the section. Hence, air can only leave the cold aisle through theracks 20.

When the sections are connected together a corridor running along and inbetween the rear external wall of the building and the rear internalwalls is defined. This corridor runs along the entire length of the datacentre building 10, terminating at each end in a wider area directlybehind each air treatment region 16. The air treatment equipmentsupplies cooling air directly into this corridor at each end, hence itis a cold corridor. From this cold corridor, the cooling air passesthrough the vented doors 19 into the cold aisles.

The spaces that are defined between the rear sides of adjacent rows ofracks when the sections 15 a-h are connected together receive warm airexhausted by IT equipment in the racks, and are therefore hot aisles.The hot aisles are directly connected to a larger hot corridor whichruns adjacent to the front external wall of the building, between thetwo return air vents 17. Hot air can exit the hot corridor throughexhaust air outlets 14 and/or return air vents 17.

The data centre building 10 includes various services includinglighting, smoke detection and fire suppression, power distribution, andcontrolling the air treatment equipment. As far as possible themechanical and electrical apparatus is mounted on the ceiling of thedata centre building 10. The arrangement of the mechanical andelectrical apparatus in data centre building 10 will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 3-7.

The space behind the air treatment region 16 in section 15 h, which isshown in detail in FIG. 3, contains a power metering panel formonitoring the power consumed by each rack in the rack room module, twoelectrical distribution panels 32, a control process panel 31, a VESDA(Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus) fire detection monitoring panel,and an uninterruptible power supply and back-up batteries. Theseapparatus are mounted on the walls of section 15 h, which is the onlysection of the data centre building 10 to have any wall-mountedmechanical and electrical apparatus. A metal grille 33 separates theelectrical distribution panels from the other panels. The grille 33includes a portion that can be opened to allow personnel access to theelectrical distribution panels 32.

Each of the IT sections 15 b-g also has its own sub-control panel,referred to as an outstation. The outstations are located directly abovethe vented doors 19, and are integral with the door frames. Eachoutstation monitors and controls the position of the louvres in thevented door in its section, based on airflow velocity data for the coldaisle in its section. This data is provided by sensors located in ductswhich link each cold aisle to an adjacent hot aisle.

The control process panel 31 receives data, such as temperature andhumidity data, from various sensors inside and outside the data centrebuilding 10. It also receives information about the positions of thelouvres in the vented doors 19 from the outstations. It uses thisinformation to control the air treatment equipment and the variouscontrollable intake and outlet vents in order to achieve effective andenergy efficient cooling of IT equipment in the racks.

The control process panel 31 communicates with the outstations, sensors,air treatment equipment and controllable vents using a wired network.Each outstation, sensor, item of cooling equipment and item ofmechanical and electrical equipment which is monitored and/or controlledby the control process panel 31 must therefore be connected to it by anetwork cable. Network cables must also be connected to all of the ITequipment in the racks. Other services which must be distributed aroundthe data centre building 10 include power, which is distributed usingbusbars, fire suppression gas, and lighting. In data centre 10 this isachieved by mounting all of these services to the ceiling using a systemof service cassettes.

FIG. 4 shows a cold corridor service cassette 40, for use in the coldcorridor of data centre 10. The cassette 40 consists of a metalframework 41 which supports a length of main busbar 42, a length ofback-up busbar 43, two lengths of UPS busbar 44 (which distributes powerfrom the uninterruptible power supply), a cable tray 45, and a lightfitting 46. A smoke sensor (not shown) is also attached to framework 41.

The busbar lengths 42, 43, 44 are provided with connectors 47 at eachend so that they can be joined to adjacent busbar lengths onneighbouring service cassettes. The main and back-up bus bar lengths 42,43 are also provided with junctions 48 which allow right-angledconnections to be made with other busbars. The UPS busbar lengths havesimilar junctions (not shown) at a different point along their length.It will also be seen that the main busbar length 42 and the back-upbusbar length 43 are each actually made up of two separate sectionsconnected together. The light 46 is connected directly into the mainbusbar, and is wired to infrared sensors (not shown) attached toframework 41. The infrared sensors detect when the area immediatelysurrounding the light 46 is occupied and activate the light 46 only whenthis is the case. There is therefore no need for light switches to beprovided on the walls.

The length of the cold corridor service cassette 40 is equal to thewidth of a section 15. One cassette 40 is mounted on the ceiling of eachsection 15 so that when the sections 15 are arranged adjacent eachother, the busbar lengths in neighbouring service cassettes meet and canbe connected together. Hence four busbars (main, back-up, small powerUPS, and general lighting and power) are formed which run along nearlythe entire length of the cold corridor, on the ceiling.

FIG. 5 shows a cold aisle service cassette 50, for use in the coldaisles of data centre building 10. Service cassette 50 consists of ametal framework 51 which supports the UPS and general busbar lengths 52,a cable tray 53, a length of fire suppression gas pipe 54, a lightfitting 55 and its associated infrared sensors, and a smoke sensor (notshown). The UPS and general busbar lengths 52 are provided withconnectors at each end. As with the light 46, light 55 is arranged toactivate automatically when the area immediately surrounding the lightis occupied.

The length of the cold aisle service cassette 50 is such that threecassettes 50 placed end-to-end are the same length as each of the coldaisles. Thus, when three cassettes 50 are mounted on the ceiling of acold aisle and connected together they provide a small power UPS busbar,a general lighting and power busbar, and a fire suppression gas pipewhich run the entire length of that cold aisle. The UPS busbar providesan uninterruptible power supply to the IT equipment in the racks facingonto that cold aisle.

FIG. 6 shows a hot corridor service cassette 60, for use in the hotcorridor of data centre building 10. Most of the mechanical andelectrical services are routed through the cold corridor, so cassette 60simply consists of a metal framework 61 which supports a cable tray 62.A light fitting (not shown) and its associated sensor, and a smokesensor (not shown) are also fixed to the framework 61. The length of thehot corridor service cassette 60 is equal to the width of a section 15.One cassette 60 is mounted on the ceiling of each section 15 so thatwhen the sections 15 are arranged adjacent each other, cable trays andlighting are provided along the entire length of the hot corridor.

FIG. 7 shows a hot aisle service cassette 70, for use in the hot aislesof data centre building 10. Cassette 70 consists of a metal framework 71which supports a length of main busbar 72, a length of back-up busbar73, and a light fitting 74. Infrared sensors (for operating the light)and a smoke sensor are also fixed to framework 71. The busbar lengths 72and 73 are provided with connectors at each end. The length of the hotaisle service cassette 70 is such that three cassettes 70 placedend-to-end are the same length as the hot aisles. Thus, when threecassettes 70 are mounted on the ceiling of a hot aisle and connectedtogether they provide a main busbar and a back-up busbar which run theentire length of that hot aisle. These busbars provide the main powersupply for the IT equipment in the racks backing onto that hot aisle.

The service cassettes 40, 50, 60 and 70 are mounted to the ceiling viarails attached to the ceiling portions. The cassettes 40, 50, 60 and 70have gripping members (not shown) which fit around the rails. Thesegripping members secure the service cassettes to the ceiling whilst alsopermitting sliding movement along the rails, which facilitates the taskof connecting adjacent cassettes. Each gripping member includes a boltwhich, when the service cassette is in the desired place, can be screwedin so as to press against the rail. When screwed in the bolts preventthe service cassette from sliding.

Adjacent cassettes of the same type are connected end-to-end asdescribed above. However, busbars carried by the hot aisle servicecassettes 70 and the cold aisle service cassettes 50 must also beconnected to the busbars carried by the cold corridor service cassettes40. For the cold aisles this is achieved by connecting the ups busbarsin the cold corridor to each of the outstations using the junctionsprovided on the UPS and general busbars. The UPS and general busbars ineach of the cold aisles are then also connected to their respectiveoutstations by the connectors at the end of the busbar lengths.

The main and back-up busbars in the hot aisles are connected directly tothe main and back-up busbars in the cold corridor at junctions 48, byway of additional lengths of busbar which pass through slots in theinternal wall between the cold corridor and each of the hot aisles.These additional lengths of busbar connect at one end to connectors onthe hot aisle service cassettes 70 and at the other end to the junctions48. The slots in the internal wall are arranged to seal around thebusbars (and any cables) which pass through them so as to prevent airpassing between the cold corridor and the hot aisles.

The fire suppression gas pipes carried by the cold aisle servicecassettes 50 are sealed at the ends which terminate at the internal wallseparating the cold aisles from the cold corridor. At their oppositeends, each of the pipes passes through a hole in the internal wallbetween the cold aisle and the hot corridor. These holes are sealedaround the pipes so as to prevent air passing from the cold aisle to thehot corridor. In the hot corridor each gas pipe runs vertically down theinternal wall to connect with a pair of cylinders in which firesuppression gas is stored.

The method by which a data centre building 10 is constructed will now bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 8-15.

The air treatment sections 15 a and 15 h are composed of the set ofcomponents listed in table 1 a. The IT sections 15 b-g are composed ofthe set of components listed in table 1 b. These components may all bemanufactured in a central factory, alternatively the manufacture of someof the components may be outsourced to specialist manufacturers toreduce costs and build time. If the data centre building is to belocated in a different country from the central factory, or even aconsiderable distance away in the same country, it is advantageous tosource these components from a manufacturer local to the data centresite. In the case of the floor and roof coverings a particular localsupplier is nominated to ensure high levels of consistency and quality.

TABLE 1 Components of an air optimiser section Section Component SourceAir optimiser Building management system Central factory section (15acontrols and 15h) Power metering apparatus Central factory Fans Centralfactory Humidifier and humidifier control Central factory panel DXcooling controls and expansion Central factory valves Trim packs Centralfactory Sensors Central factory Louvre actuators Central factoryBuilding Management System Central factory Fire alarm and firesuppression Central factory systems Floor portion Locally sourcedCeiling portion Locally sourced Corner and intermediate posts Locallysourced External wall panels Locally sourced Internal wall panelsLocally sourced Internal and external doors Locally sourced Air intakeand return air vent louvres Locally sourced Coldlocks and easipathsLocally sourced Transit covers/lifting eyes/locating Locally sourcedplates Fixings Locally sourced Air optimiser chassis Locally sourced Lowvoltage electrical panels Locally sourced Service cassettes Locallysourced Cabling Locally sourced DX units Locally sourced Floor coveringLocally sourced from nominated supplier Roof covering Locally sourcedfrom nominated supplier

The components which are marshalled in the central factory include thecontrols for the building management system and for the DX coolingunits, all of the power metering apparatus for the data centre building,the humidifiers and their associated controls, the various sensors usedto control the data centre, and trim packs, which include the externalcladding and fascias, internal skirting and ceiling trims, and trims forthe doors and louvre frames. These components are packaged up andtransported to a local assembly facility relatively near the site wherethe data centre is to be located.

TABLE 2 Components of an IT section IT section (15b-g) OutstationCentral factory IT room network switches Central factory Vented doorsand actuators Central factory Power metering apparatus Central factoryTrim packs Central factory Floor portion Locally sourced Ceiling portionLocally sourced Corner and intermediate Locally sourced posts Externalwall panels Locally sourced Internal wall panels Locally sourcedInternal and external doors Locally sourced Blanking panels Locallysourced Exhaust air outlet louvres Locally sourced Coldlocks andeasipaths Locally sourced Transit covers/lifting eyes/ Locally sourcedlocating plates Fixings Locally sourced Service cassettes Locallysourced Cabling Locally sourced Fire alarm and fire Locally sourcedsuppression systems Floor covering Locally sourced from nominatedsupplier Roof covering Locally sourced from nominated supplier

Locally sourced components, which include the components making up thestructural frame of the sections, are delivered to the local assemblyfacility from the local manufacturer from which they have beencommissioned.

At the local assembly facility, the roof and floor coverings areinstalled on the ceiling portions 22 and the floor portions 21. Then theservice cassettes carrying most of the mechanical and electricalapparatus required in the data centre building 10 are fitted to theceiling portions 22 for the IT sections 15 b-g. To allow easy fitting ofservice cassettes to a ceiling portion 22, in the local assemblyfacility the ceiling portion is supported on columns 81 which are justtall enough to allow a person to stand underneath the ceiling portion,as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

As a first step, rails are fitted to the underside of the ceilingportion 22, along the width of the portion in the regions that will formparts of the ceilings of the hot corridor and the cold corridor, andalong its length in the regions that will form the ceilings of the hotaisle and the cold aisle. A cold corridor service cassette 40 is thenengaged with the rails on the cold corridor ceiling region and slid intoplace so that the ends of the service cassette 40 line up with the longedges of the ceiling portion 22. When in place the bolts on the grippingmembers are screwed in to prevent further movement of the cassette 40.

Three hot aisle service cassettes 70 are engaged (in series) with therails on the hot aisle ceiling and slid into position. Connections aremade between the busbar lengths 72 and 73 carried by the servicecassettes 70 and the bolts on the gripping members are screwed in tosecure the service cassettes 70 in position. This process is repeatedfor the three cold aisle service cassettes 50 and the hot corridorservice cassette 60.

Bulkheads 91 which fill the space between the top of the racks 20 andthe ceiling are also fixed to the ceiling portion 22 at this point. Theceiling portion 22 is then ready to be packed up with rest of thestructural components of the IT section.

All of the structural components of the IT section can be arranged intoa compact space for transit by arranging them as follows. The externalwall panels 25, vented door assembly 19, corner posts 23, intermediateposts 24 and internal wall panels 29 are laid out flat on top of floorportion 21 as shown in FIG. 10, and temporarily fixed into place usingany suitable removable securing means known in the art. The ceilingportion 22, with attached service cassettes and bulkheads is then placedon top of these components as shown in FIG. 11 to form a package 111.

The corner elements 28 are formed such that the corner elements of theceiling portion 22 have a wide section and a narrow section, with a lipwhere these two sections meet. The narrow section can be inserted intothe corresponding corner element on the floor portion 21. The lip thenrests on the top of the floor portion corner element and supports theweight of the ceiling portion 22. The height of the corner elements 28is such that when the floor and ceiling portions are fitted together inthis manner there is a small gap between the bottom of the servicecassettes and the components laid out on top of the floor portion 21.Thus the ceiling portion 22 covers and protects the components laid outon the floor portion 21 but does not bear any weight onto them. Thecorner elements 28 of the floor and ceiling portions are then boltedtogether to allow the entire package 111 to be handled as a single unit.

The process of assembling and packing the components of the airoptimisation sections 15 a and 15 h is very similar to that describedabove for the IT sections 15 b-g, however service cassettes are not usedin these sections. The packing process for an air optimisation sectiontherefore involves just arranging and securing the components of the airoptimisation section between the floor and ceiling portions 21 and 22and fixing the floor and ceiling portions together to form a package112. Because the floor and ceiling portions of the air optimisationsections are identical to the floor and ceiling portions of the ITsections, the packages 111 and 112 are of identical shape and size.Three such packages stacked one on top of the other, as shown in FIG.12, will fit into a standard ISO shipping container. A cover 121protects the floor and ceiling portions 21, 22 from incurring cosmeticdamage during transit.

The remaining components of the data centre which are not packed up withthe IT sections and air optimiser sections are packaged up separately.In particular, the DX units are packaged into self-contained DX modules131. A DX module 131 is shown by FIG. 13a . In each DX module 131 the DXunits 132 are secured into a stackable metal frame 133 which is designedto fit within a standard ISO shipping container. All of the DXcondensers 132 in a DX module 131 are connected up to power and controlcabling and refrigerant gas pipework which meets at a single connectionpoint (not visible). The DX modules 131 can be installed onto the datacentre building 10 in this form, and only require connection to theappropriate utilities (i.e. power, a supply of refrigerant gas, and theprocess control panel 31) before being ready for use.

The other items of air treatment apparatus required by the data centreare also provided packaged in stackable metal frames 135 with singleconnection points, as shown by FIG. 13b . Five such frames carry all ofthe air treatment equipment required by a single air optimisationsection 15 a, 15 h. Frame 134 a carries sound attenuators. Frame 134 bcarries a bank of variable speed fans. Frame 134 c carries humidifiers.Frame 134 d carries the DX cooling coils. Finally, Frame 134 e carriesair filters. Each frame 134 a-e also carries a door 135 to allow accessto the air treatment equipment. The frames 134 a-e can be connectedtogether to form an air optimisation module 136 which can then beinserted into an air optimisation region 16 in one of the airoptimisation sections 15 a, 15 h.

Once packed up, all of the components of the data centre building 10 aretransported to the site where the data centre is to be located. Thissite must be provided with a flat, level foundation and connections tosupplies of electricity and water, drainage facilities, and acommunications network.

Erecting the data centre building 10 from its constituent componentsrequires no skills beyond what a typical construction worker wouldpossess, and as such it is possible to use a construction team hiredlocally to the data centre site. The process of erecting the data centrebuilding 10 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15.

The first step in the erection of the data centre building 10 is toseparate the section packages 111, 112 and remove the components whichare secured to the floor portions 21. Each section 15 is then erected asfollows. The corner posts 23 and intermediate posts 24 are connected tothe floor portion 21 and bolted in place. The ceiling portion 22 is thenlifted onto the corner and intermediate posts. The corner elements 28 ofceiling portion 22 and the corner posts 23 are shaped such that the topportion of each corner post 23 receives within it the narrow part of thecorresponding corner element 28. The corner elements of the floorportion 21 and the bottom portion of each corner post are similarlycomplementarily shaped; however the bottom portion of each corner postis received within the corresponding floor portion corner element. Thetop and bottom ends of the intermediate posts 24 are received intorecesses in the ceiling portion 22 and floor portion 21 respectively.This ensures that the structure formed by the floor portion 21, cornerposts and ceiling portion 22 remains securely in place until all of thecorner elements 28 can be bolted to the corner posts 23.

Once this basic section structure has been assembled, the internal wallpanels 29 are fixed into place as shown by FIG. 14. The vented door 19and outstation is installed at this stage, as are the busbar sectionswhich connect the cold corridor busbars to the busbars in the hot andcold aisles. Then the external wall panels 25 are fixed to either end ofthe section and, where necessary, the external doors and/or louvres arefitted. This can be done simultaneously with the internal walls beinginstalled. These are the only steps involved in the assembly of an ITsection.

For an air optimiser section 15 a, 15 h, the following additional stepsare required. External wall panels 25 are fitted on one of the longsides of the section. Internal walls and doors are fitted to enclose theair treatment region 16. Power management zone panels (which include thecontrol process panel 31 and electrical distribution panels 32) arefitted to the inside surfaces of the space behind the air treatmentregion 16. The air optimisation module 136 equipment is installed in theair treatment region 16.

The assembled sections 15 can be moved around using the crane orcombi-lifter. In this manner the sections are arranged adjacent eachother as shown in FIGS. 15a and 15b . The left-hand air optimisersection 15 a is placed in position first. Then IT section 15 b ispositioned and fixed next to section 15 a. The remaining sections 15 c-hare positioned and fixed together, including connecting the hot corridorservice cassettes 60 and cold corridor service cassettes 40 in adjacentsections, to form the complete data centre building 10.

By this stage, most of the mechanical and electrical apparatus isalready installed in the building by virtue of the service cassettes.The remaining mechanical and electrical fitout tasks include installinga pair of fire suppression gas cylinders in the hot corridor of eachsection and connecting these to the fire suppression gas pipe on theceiling of the hot aisle in that section, installing the control processpanel 31 and the electrical distribution panels 32 into section 15 a,running network cables around the building to connect the controlprocess panel 31 to the various sensors, louvres, outstations and airtreatment equipment which it monitors and/or controls, and connectingthe busbars to the electrical distribution panels. It will beappreciated that these tasks are rendered fairly minor because thedistribution of power, cables, lighting, sensors and fire suppressiongas pipework throughout the IT sections of the data centre 10 hasalready been taken care of by the service cassettes.

At this stage the data centre is ready for the racks to be installed andfor it to be connected up to the local utility supplies, which is asimple matter of making a connection at a single point. The data centrebuilding can then be commissioned and populated with IT equipment. Usingthe method described above, the entire manufacture and constructionprocess from order to completion can take less than six weeks.

FIGS. 16a, 16b and 17 show a data centre building 210 according to asecond embodiment of the invention. FIG. 16b is an exploded view of themain parts shown in FIG. 16a . In contrast to the first embodiment, thedata centre building of the second embodiment is a multi-storey datacentre. The interior layout and operation of each storey of the datacentre 210 is very similar to the single-storey data centre of the firstembodiment, and for example each level comprises two air optimisersections, and six IT sections. There are however differences between thefirst and second embodiments which are described below.

In this second embodiment the ceiling portions 222 of the ground floorstorey also serve as the floor portions 221 of the sections immediatelyabove. This does not require any alteration to the basic structure ofthe ceiling portion; rather it is simply a matter of fixing flooringmaterial to the top of the ceiling section 222 rather than roofingmaterial. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 16a and 16b , the ceiling portion 222comprises a framework consisting of two long side steel beams 226, twoshort end steel beams 227, and four steel corner elements 228, which aredesigned to connect with the ground floor corner posts 223 a (shown inFIG. 16a ) which support the ceiling portion 222. The lower surface (notvisible) of the ceiling portion 222 is made from steel plate with aplastic coating finish.

On top of the ceiling portion 222, the floor 221 is defined by means ofa plywood floor deck supported on the joists of ceiling portion 222.

In this second embodiment, the corner elements 228 also support thecorner posts 223 b of the first floor. Similarly, intermediate supportposts 224 b for the first floor extend upwardly from the ceiling portion222.

As best shown in the exploded view of FIG. 16b , a cold corridor servicecassette 40, a cold aisle service cassette 50, a hot aisle servicecassette 70, and a bulkhead 91 are mounted on the lower surface of theceiling portion 222.

FIG. 17 shows (on the right hand side) a cut-away perspective view ofthe two-storey data centre 210 once installed in a larger building. Inthis embodiment, the floor 300 of the building accommodating the datacentre 210 provides the floor of the ground-level storey of the datacentre 210. It will be appreciated that the larger building may, as aresult of housing a data centre, itself be considered as a data centreor a data centre building, despite possibly performing other functions.In the case where a larger building is used to house the data centre,there may be less of a requirement for water-proofing of the top storeyof the data centre 210. It may for example be provided withoutadditional roofing elements. The uppermost ceiling portions 222 of thedata centre 210 of FIG. 17 are not for example provided with any rooflinings or sloped roof panels for draining rain water. As shownschematically on the left hand side of FIG. 17, the uppermost ceilingportion 222 b comprises a steel structure 294 onto the underside ofwhich are mounted the service cassettes (labelled collectively as item299). The ceiling portion 222 a between the ground and first floors,also shown schematically on the left hand side of FIG. 17, similarlycomprises a steel structure 294 onto the underside of which are mountedthe service cassettes 299, but also has floor covering (collectivelyrepresented by numeral 295) mounted on top of the joists.

Whilst not shown in FIG. 17, an external metal staircase is fixed to theoutside of the modules to provide access to the upper level of the datacentre.

Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated withreference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those ofordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to manydifferent variations not specifically illustrated herein. By way ofexample only, certain possible variations will now be described.

The data centre building 10 of the first embodiment is designed to beinstalled on an outside site. The present invention may equally well beused for a data centre (single or multi-storey) which is to be locatedinside an existing building, for example a warehouse. In this case theroof portions do not need to be covered with roofing material, and thereis no need to provide floor portions at all. Instead corner elements 28can be provided separately for fixing to the floor as supports for thecorner columns. Packages 131 require a base board onto which the sectioncomponents can be secured since there are no floor portions. Thisresults in the packages being considerably lighter and slightly smallerin volume. When assembling the data centre building, each section mustbe constructed in its final position since the sections do not formcomplete volumetric units that can be moved around after beingassembled.

The data centre components which are centrally manufactured or locallysourced may be different from the lists set out above. It will beappreciated that any division is possible, and indeed all of thecomponents may be sourced locally or manufactured centrally. If all ofthe data centre components are manufactured centrally then the sections15 will be packed into packages 111, 112, and the DX units will bepacked into DX modules 131, in the central factory and will be sentstraight to the final site.

The bulkheads 91 mentioned above could instead be provided as steelstructure incorporated in the ceiling portions 22.

The data centre building could be constructed as a multi-storey datacentre building, having more than two storeys.

Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentionedwhich have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then suchequivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope ofthe present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass anysuch equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader thatintegers or features of the invention that are described as preferable,advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit thescope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood thatsuch optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in someembodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore beabsent, in other embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of constructing a data centre, wherein:the data centre is formed from multiple sections, and two or moresections of the data centre are constructed by performing the followingsteps: (a) providing a plurality of kits of parts for forming the two ormore sections of the data centre, each kit of parts comprising at leastone data centre ceiling portion and a plurality of data centresupporting members; (b) mounting at least two different services on eachof the data centre ceiling portions; (c) arranging the kits comprisingthe data centre ceiling portions and the plurality of data centresupporting members into a first configuration so that the kitscollectively occupy a first sum volume; (d) transporting the kits in thefirst configuration; and (e) assembling together the data centre ceilingportions and data centre supporting members of each kit of parts in asecond configuration so as to form the two or more sections of the datacentre, the kits in the second configuration collectively occupying asecond sum volume; the first sum volume being smaller than the secondsum volume, and wherein step (b) is carried out before step (e) iscompleted.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the methodadditionally comprises a step of joining together the two or moresections of the data centre.
 3. A method according to claim 1, whereinthe joining step is performed part-way through or before the step ofassembling together the data centre ceiling portions and data centresupporting members.
 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the datacentre ceiling portions are not joined to the data centre supportingmembers during the transporting step.
 5. A method according to claim 1,wherein the step of mounting at least two different services on each ofthe data centre ceiling portions is performed before the step ofassembling together the data centre ceiling portions and data centresupporting members.
 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the stepof arranging the kits into a first configuration so that the kitscollectively occupy a first sum volume includes arranging the at leastone data centre ceiling portion and the plurality of data centresupporting members of each kit into a single volume.
 7. A methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the first sum volume is less than half ofthe second sum volume.
 8. A method according to claim 1, wherein thestep of mounting at least two different services on the data centreceiling portions includes the step of providing service-carrying chassiseach comprising components of at least two different services.
 9. Amethod according to claim 8, wherein the step of mounting at least twodifferent services on the data centre ceiling portions includes the stepof attaching each of the service carrying chassis to one of the datacentre ceiling portions.
 10. A method according to claim 8, wherein themethod additionally includes the step of connecting the components onone of the service carrying chassis on a data centre ceiling portion tothe corresponding components on an adjacent service carrying chassis onanother data centre ceiling portion.
 11. A method according to claim 8,wherein the service-carrying chassis each comprise: a frame, onto whichis mounted components of at least two different services; and a mountingsystem for attaching the chassis to one of the data centre ceilingportions.
 12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said two or moresections of the data centre are assembled together to define a unitarystructure such that there exists at least one personnel area that spansthe two or more sections; wherein the sections comprise: a first sectionwith which there is associated a first service-carrying chassis; and asecond section with which there is associated a second service-carryingchassis comprising a frame onto which is mounted components of at leasttwo different services; the first and second chassis are connected toeach other by means of a junction between the first and second chassis;and the first and second sections each include a ceiling and the firstservice-carrying chassis is mounted on the ceiling of the first sectionand the second service-carrying chassis is mounted on the ceiling of thesecond section.
 13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at leasttwo different services include services providing electrical power, datatransfer, and a fluid; the components including a cable tray, a lengthof network cable, and a lighting system.
 14. A method of constructing adata centre, wherein: the data centre is formed from multiple sections,and at least one section of the data centre is constructed by performingthe following steps: (a) providing a plurality of data centre ceilingportions; (b) providing a plurality of data centre supporting members;(c) mounting at least two different services on each of the plurality ofdata centre ceiling portions; (d) arranging the plurality of data centreceiling portions and the plurality of data centre supporting membersinto a first sum volume; (e) transporting the data centre ceilingportions and data centre supporting members as arranged into the firstsum volume; and (f) assembling together the data centre ceiling portionsand data centre supporting members to form said at least one section ofthe data centre, said at least one section of the data centre so formedhaving a second sum volume; the first sum volume being smaller than thesecond sum volume, and wherein step (c) is carried out before step (f)is completed.
 15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the methodadditionally comprises a step of joining said at least one section ofthe data centre with another section of the data centre.
 16. A methodaccording to claim 15, wherein the joining step is performed part-waythrough or before the step of assembling together the data centreceiling portions and data centre supporting members.
 17. A methodaccording to claim 14, wherein the plurality of data centre ceilingportions are not joined to the plurality of data centre supportingmembers during the transporting step.
 18. A method according to claim14, wherein the step of mounting at least two different services on eachof the plurality of data centre ceiling portions is performed before thestep of assembling together the data centre ceiling portions and datacentre supporting members.
 19. A method according to claim 14, whereinthe first sum volume is less than half of the second sum volume.
 20. Amethod according to claim 14, wherein the step of mounting at least twodifferent services on each of the plurality of data centre ceilingportions includes the step of providing service carrying chassis eachcomprising components of at least two different services.
 21. A methodaccording to claim 20, wherein the step of mounting at least twodifferent services on each of the plurality of data centre ceilingportions includes the step of attaching each of the service carryingchassis to one of the plurality of data centre ceiling portions.
 22. Amethod according to claim 20, wherein the method additionally includesthe step of connecting the components on one of the service carryingchassis on a data centre ceiling portion to the corresponding componentson an adjacent service carrying chassis on another data centre ceilingportion.
 23. A method according to claim 20, wherein theservice-carrying chassis each comprise: a frame, onto which is mountedcomponents of at least two different services; and a mounting system forattaching the chassis to one of the data centre ceiling portions.
 24. Amethod according to claim 20, wherein said multiple sections of the datacentre are assembled together to define a unitary structure such thatthere exists at least one personnel area that spans at least twosections; wherein the multiple sections comprise: a first section withwhich there is associated a first service-carrying chassis; and a secondsection with which there is associated a second service-carrying chassiscomprising a frame onto which is mounted components of at least twodifferent services; the first and second chassis are connected to eachother by means of a junction between the first and second chassis; andthe first and second sections each include a ceiling and the firstservice-carrying chassis is mounted on the ceiling of the first sectionand the second service-carrying chassis is mounted on the ceiling of thesecond section.
 25. A method according to claim 14, wherein the at leasttwo different services include services providing electrical power, datatransfer, and a fluid; the components including a cable tray, a lengthof network cable, and a lighting system.